This site is dedicated to the preservation of memory of silent films. Although they were quite important in the evolution of cinema, they remain virtually forgotten nowadays. Since the best way to understand the present is taking an attentive look at the past, here you have some movies, pictures, interviews, etc. on silent cinema. Some occasional material on sound films will also be presented. I hope you enjoy getting to know a bit more about the beauty and sheer fun of these golden oldies.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Usurer's Grip - 1912

Country: United States

Language: English

Director: Bannister Merwin

Writers: Bannister Merwin
(scenario), Theodora Huntington (story)

Stars: Walter Edwin, Gertrude
McCoy and Edna May Weick

Release Date: 5 October 1912
(USA)

Production Co: Edison Company

Runtime: 15 min

Sound Mix: Silent

Color: Black and White

Genres: Drama | Short

THE USURER'S GRIP is, not
surprisingly, a film decrying the evil of usurers--people who charge
ridiculously high (and illegal) interest rates for loans. A family is in need
of some extra money. They see an ad promising low-interest loans and easy
payment plans. However, after taking out this loan, the family finds they've
been conned and are unable to make their payments. A female employee of the
usurer shows up at the poor man's job to bawl him out and ruins his reputation
in front of his boss. The result of this is that the employee is fired--and
falls even further behind on the loan! Then a "trailer" is then hired
to follow the man to his next job and the lady comes once again to bawl him out
and hound him--making it impossible to pay the loan when he could get fired
again. However, the new boss is a swell fella and helps the man get a
low-interest loan to pay off the original loan. In the meantime, however, the
loan shark arrives at the same time at the man's house and the wife watches as
they cart away his furniture--even the bed where his sick child is sleeping!
What are they to do?! Well, see it for yourself to find out if the family can
be saved.

Profile

Brazilian, greatly fond of classic movies, specially silent ones. It is a pleasure to understand better how life was like in the past with the help of those films. Moreover, they are quite fun to watch, once you sit down and are willing to see things from another perspective. In case you want to exchange ideas, e-mail me at silentbeauties10@gmail.com and you will be answered as soon as possible.